CAM is launching a pledge campaign to support The El Rey Community Arts and Housing Project and we need your help! Join us as we work to raise $1 million to create affordable housing and cultural space in the heart of Belltown.

There are so many ways to get involved! Read on to learn more about the project and how you can be a part of building lasting infrastructure for artists and cultural workers in Seattle.

  • Common Area Maintenance has saved the historic El Rey building in Belltown and is transforming it into permanently affordable housing for artists and cultural workers.

    Alongside housing, the building will include shared space for community programming, residencies, and creative work. This project is about protecting cultural space while building something lasting for the people who make this city what it is. It creates a foundation for artists, organizations, and the public to stay, gather, and grow together in Seattle.

    We are launching a $1 million fundraising campaign to support the development, renovation, and long-term stability of The El Rey. Donations or pledged support will help us bring this project to life as a sustainable community resource.

  • Common Area Maintenance (CAM) was founded in 2015, with a goal of fostering a community of artists in an affordable space. We are a shared art studio and gallery, founded and propelled by artists, whose purpose is to cultivate an inclusive, affordable, and supportive creative community through resource-sharing, collaboration, and curatorial events.

    We operate across two locations in Belltown, Common AREA on 2nd and Blanchard which houses our printshop and fabrication studio, and Common OBJECTS on 1st and Vine where our writers membership is located along with the Common Objects Bookstore, gallery and performance space.

    CAM hosts over 130 free and low-costs public events, classes and programs every year and partners with dozens of Seattle’s arts and literary organizations. We are proud to be a place where artists and writers can come to connect, collaborate and find belonging.

Send Texts!

One of the most effective things you can do is directly reach out to your community and friends. It says a lot that you are vouching for this project and s one thing that makes a huge impact!

Copy the link to our project page, send it to your friends, and help us build excitement and support for the project!

Send Emails!

Click the “EMAIL FRIENDS” button below for a template that you can copy and paste! Feel free to personalize it and send off to your community. Easy Peasy!

Share Social Media

Download the images and copy text to share on social media! Personalize the messages with your own voice! Share the parts of the project that will excite your community!

Please click on the images you like and they will open up - if you are on mobile just hold your finger on the image after it opens and it will prompt you to save to your photos - on a desktop right click the image and choose your download option. You can also download everything from this link - IMAGE FOLDER

Sample social media language

Hello everyone! I am helping to spread the word about an organization that I support and care about, Common Area Maintenance (CAM) @common_area.

CAM is a local, shared art studio and gallery whose purpose is to cultivate an inclusive, affordable, and supportive creative community.

CAM is working on an incredible project to transform a historic building in downtown Seattle into affordable housing and cultural space. Join me in supporting CAM’s mission to create more resources for artists and nonprofits by spreading the word about The El Rey Community Arts and Housing Project, or by pledging a donation.

In order to be eligible for a major buildings grant, CAM needs to raise $1 million by June 30th. I know we can do it! There are enough of us out there who care deeply about keeping Seattle’s creative communities in the heart of the city, if we pull together, we can bring this project one step closer to its goal!

Ways you can help: 

  • Make a pledge - Make a one-time donation or pledge support over a longer period of time. All pledges go toward the $1 million goal. (link in @common_area bio)

  • Reach out to people who might be interested in supporting the project

  • Spread the news  - Follow @common_area   

  • Become a member - Are you an artist or writer in need of affordable shared studio space? Sign up for a CAM membership on our website (link in @common_area bio)

  • Volunteer - Help CAM build this new space!